Was I unreasonable to rig the school council election?

[Coffeeandteach]

I can tell you who will win when I look at the list of candidates. Every year it annoys me that some lovely, often overlooked, somewhere in the middle child will put themselves forward and read a thoughtful speech (written all on their own, at school) but never wins. They lose out to either the most popular or the most able child.

The child who got the most votes today had a speech that consisted of only, "I should win because I am the most popular."

I broke. I rigged it. The lovely, overlooked, somewhere in the middle child was announced the winner and she was delighted (and will do a great job).

YABU- You are the Putin of teachers. Shame on you!

YANBU- Sometimes you have to help the little guy

Um....what’s wrong with the most able student?

That smacks of punishment for them!

@Kaiserin

You clearly ARE the Putin of teachers, look at that YANBU score! Your vote rigging powers are remarkable

Ah but we can't take that too seriously. The votes have been counted and the results are in, but I don't think the teacher has been through them yet and disagreed the votes for the kid she doesn't like yet . Once that's happened, then we'll know! Vital part of any democratic process.

Discarded not disagreed^^

Well done op.

My kid is always overlooked. He has sen and works so hard to be, and stay, at the level he's at. All he wants is a certificate and works so hard to get one but he gets nothing.

I had one last year who stood up and said "um, ah.... erm... I'd get the trim trail fixed' and got voted in. Got right on my wick. Luckily she left half way through the first term, so I said that the second person was X. X hadn't got many votes, but deserved it.

Donald Trump needed a teacher like you - you've taught a good lesson.

Please do the same when it comes to allocating main parts for the school play once they're allowed again.

It's lovely that you've given this child a chance to shine.


@Coffeeandteach there was a really interesting revisionist history podcast episode recently on elections and basically how we should use random ballots/raffles instead of elections - because elections aren't democratic - they automatically exclude the uncool/unpopular even when those applicants may work the hardest/have the most aptitude. They're popularity contests and not effective leadership opportunities.

So basically you were just correcting this imbalance

In the circumstance, nope. YANBU and I would be tempted to do it too.

In circumstances like witchend mentions, that would be I think.

@CokeyCola

Donald Trump needed a teacher like you - you've taught a good lesson.

Really? god knows what he would be like if he had. Have you seen his comments on accepting an election result he didn't like?

You are corrupt and rigged a vote. What kind of example is that. You're probably at the head of a protest march on democratic rights. Another one who doesn't practice what they preach.

@PenguinIce

Depends if you rigged it for the ‘overlooked child’ or the ‘teacher’s pet’ - we only have your word for which one it was 🤷‍♀️

Only day 2 of the new school year so no teacher's pet yet. Maybe for the Spring term elections though 😉

In all honesty, I just hate the same children being picked for everything, always. A great teacher once said to me that every week you should write down the names or the children in your class. The ones at the bottom of the list, or who didn't make the list (because you forgot them) are the ones you need to focus more on the next week because they obviously didn't get enough attention that week. I try to make sure they all feel included/valued.

Only day 2 of the new school year so no teacher's pet yet.

So how do you know which kid is the popular one?

Sorry, it's just that when one person undermines a process which the children she is teaching obviously believe to be a fair reflection of their votes, because she knows better, it does bring up some questions. Not for many people on this thread, granted, as you've had a lot of enthusiast support on here. If I was your teacher, I'd make sure you didn't get any decent roles, as you're far too popular .

@BigBlondeBimbo

Only day 2 of the new school year so no teacher's pet yet.

So how do you know which kid is the popular one?

Sorry, it's just that when one person undermines a process which the children she is teaching obviously believe to be a fair reflection of their votes, because she knows better, it does bring up some questions. Not for many people on this thread, granted, as you've had a lot of enthusiast support on here. If I was your teacher, I'd make sure you didn't get any decent roles, as you're far too popular .

I recognised the other children from seeing them playing the main parts in school plays or being picked to stand up at the front of our weekly 'well done'assembly.

Righto, so, based on never having met this child before yesterday, you decided you knew better than all of their class mates...and then made out that the vote went the other way...when the class mates who have known the child for years voted for them. I mean...chances are you're right, but you're guessing at best. If this was your call, that would be one thing, but you have made out this is the children's call. Shouldn't have done it. I think it was actually pretty shitty and I don't care how many people come on here and applaud you for your 'amazing bravery' and 'wish you were my child's teacher'. I mean, massive well done to you; you got one over on a primary aged kid who was 'too big for their boots with their parts in school plays and the like, chuh' . Pick on someone your own size next time you feel like throwing your weight around. HTH.

A great teacher once said to me that every week you should write down the names or the children in your class. The ones at the bottom of the list, or who didn't make the list (because you forgot them) are the ones you need to focus more on the next week because they obviously didn't get enough attention that week. I try to make sure they all feel included/valued.

That teacher is indeed great IMO. Good advice.

Mind, I was never picked for main roles in plays etc..and I would have been mortified if I had been! But I guess you get to know the kids and know if any are shy so really wouldn't want it, and stuff. I do feel bad sometimes seeing the same few kids on rtate getting awards, photos on school sites, etc. Yeah they might deserve it, but it does get a bit..much sometimes. My daughter was always getting on the main photos and that and she actually said that her friend was getting sad she wasn't and asked if I could talk to the teacher about including her friend instead of her sometimes..shes only 8..its a widespread problem.

This has put a huge smile on my face. Good on you OP.

I've seen, first hand, the well-behaved, quiet children being overlooked time and time again for all sorts (certificates, awards, treats, school plays, elections...) and it's really unfair.
The secondary school I worked in gave awards only to the kids who were loud, brash, 'couldn't give a fuck about the work' for doing the bare minimum once or the exceptionally sporty/popular students.. The quiet kids got nothing.
Really demotivating for them.

*rotate

Since nursery too, shes now in y3. And its still the same few focussed on constantly. One seems t be as her mum is head teachers mate, some are teachers pets seemingly, and the photo thing seems to be..whichever child is photogenic (which seems shit when its kids to me, yeah one might have a odd smile or whatever, but they are children!), so stuck on same ones a lot..

Just don't give him or her a box novichocs too celebrate!

Well done. Sometimes we 'Need' a Putin moment.

'To celebrate'...bloody predictive text.

I'm quite shocked at so many people think this was a great thing to do. I just think it's wrong for anyone in power using the power, especially a teacher, to falsify something, even for a good cause.

You didn't rig it, you just used the US electoral college system. Just ask Hillary.

YANBU. So glad you did this!

@cantstopsinginglittlebabybum

Well done op.

My kid is always overlooked. He has sen and works so hard to be, and stay, at the level he's at. All he wants is a certificate and works so hard to get one but he gets nothing.

Do schools not realise the positive power of those little coloured paper 'Certificates' ?

''{Name} deserves a special mention today for ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~''

My school had 'Prize Day' and I never received a prize, much to my parent's chagrin.

They went to the 'Good' children...The chatterboxes didn't get a look in.

If only you had been in charge of the general election results!